Thread: What's happened to Stanley tools?

Originally Posted by Doken

I can just remember the time when Sher power tools were made in Melbourne, they were built like tanks, virtually unbreakable.
My dad had a small pistol drill which I inherited, it still runs like new, no reverse or course.

Ah yes, reminiscing time.
I worked for Sher power tools at about the time that Skil bought them out and they became Skil-Sher. I worked in the sales and service dept in Wellington St and was later trained to repair power tools.
Old man Sher still hung around but didn't do much. He was quite elderly even back then. He was there more for staff moral then anything else.
His son Ron was an engineer there. In quiet moments in conversation with him, you could tell he hated the changes taking place. The quality was getting lost.
Ron Sher continued in this field.
At one stage he was getting stuff built in Taiwan or similar and selling as Sher Power Tools. I have one of his drill presses. I bought it simply because of his name on it. I knew he would never put his family name on rubbish. well, that was my theory anyway.
Apparantly, he's now heavily into smaller model making engineering equipment and has quite a range of quality gear coming out of the USA. California I think.
Google "Ron Sher" You'll find it.
Sorry, a little stroll down memory lane. I'm back now.

Jim

Originally Posted by jimbur

A bit of honesty would go a long way. I liked the way Makita went with Maktek, cheaper but no pretence.
Perhaps they should rebadge the below par stuff as Stanlite or some such name. However, it does make you wonder if they know themselves what is good anymore. It shouldn't matter where it is made as long as the factory is given the right specs and quality control is there.
cheers,
Jim

Henry Ford recognized the problem in his book written in 1920. The engineers are being squeezed out and all the decisions are being made by people with accounting and management degrees who can only see the bottom line. The problem is many fold worse thees days. Businesses are run by people who have never used what their firm or conglomerate produce.

My pet gripe.
Regards

Bean counters: knowing the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

It's got me to thinking.
Back in the day an early 60's Holden was cactus at 100,000 miles (160,000 k's), but these days cars will routinely do 300,000 k's or more if properly maintained and well driven.
The steel is better, they are machined more accurately and designs have improved.
Back in the same day houses needed a coat of paint every 6 or 8 years but today's acrylics have improved out of sight and can be left for well over 10 years with only a wash down and minor repairs before a recoat.
Why are hand tools any different?
It seems to me that they should be better, not worse, like pretty much everything else.
I'm sick of it and I'm black banning rubbish tools.
(Sheepish grin) Unless they're all I can buy, a man has to eat after all.

Originally Posted by jimbur

I liked the way Makita went with Maktek, cheaper but no pretence.

Unfortuantly Makita have also ventured down the same path with their brand (I think the Maktec thing was a bit of a flop). Walk into Bunnings and look at the Makita range. Half the range you probably won't find in any decent trade tool store, for a while they were selling a 18v LXT cordless drill that looked like a cheap rip off.
Makita seem to have varying levels of the same tool, which is an absolute minefield for the novice or unwary.

Originally Posted by jimbur

Perhaps they should rebadge the below par stuff as Stanlite or some such name.

Stanley also have the 'Fatmax' and 'Fatmax Extreme' range of tools. So I would say the old trusted Stanley name has become their 'Ozito'.

Originally Posted by A Duke

Businesses are run by people who have never used what their firm or conglomerate produce.

I still do believe there is still allot of very high quality tools available today. The difference is the brands and types available today compared to 30-40 years ago is absolutely massive.

Fatmax really is a terrible name. It just doesn't sound like it would be anything associated with quality. Maybe something with unusually bulky handles? or named after an obese chippy called Max?

The problem with companies where accountants run the show is salami tactics: Small production changes that save costs at the expense of a tiny drop in quality, repeated over and over again until you end up with the rubbish we see today...

Originally Posted by Kyle

Unfortuantly Makita have also ventured down the same path with their brand (I think the Maktec thing was a bit of a flop).
I still do believe there is still allot of very high quality tools available today. The difference is the brands and types available today compared to 30-40 years ago is absolutely massive.

Shame about Makita. It shows that you are always driving using the rear-vision mirror.
A long time ago in the UK you used to trust where something was made - Made in Sheffield, Made in England gave you a good clue as to quality. But you had to be careful if something said British Made or Empire Made!
I think it was preferable when the brands went under before they dropped in quality than went the way of profit at any cost.
Cheers,
Jim